Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-26
WOMAN AND HOME.
HOW A SHREWD GRANDMOTHER Sc
CURED A HOME FOR THE BOYS"

Morton and Willis Lane, two great boys Of
IA and 16 years, were trimming over with
life and fun. They played ball, rowed boats,
practiced gymnastics, scraped on violins blew
horns, whistled, sang and shouted, and thus
relieved, as BY safety valves, their surplus
animal spirit. This did very well by day,
but when night came or storms ragged, they
were like Gagged eagles If they went into the
sitting room they were forced to sit still lest
they should disturb their father, who was
always closing up his days accounts there.
If they went into the kitchen they were sure
to give offense to old Betty by leaving foot
prints on her well secured floor. If they
drummed on the piano in the parlor they
disturbed their sisters study or made some
bodys head ache. So they too often took up
their hats after tea and went off to sit on a
fence with other boys, or to rove about town,
whstling and singing and shouting.
These boys were in fair way to be ruined
for want of cheerful home shelter, and they
would have been but for one beSsing-they
had grandmother who thought their COM
fort and enjoyment of more Importance than
that of an occasional visitor of their sisters,
or bevy of country cousins who came there
twice a year to do shopping, and thus saved
hotel bill This good grandma had little
money and half dozen homes; so she was
not afraid to express her opinion on the sub
| ject, now that she had come to them for
| long visit. The new house was being dis
| cussed again one evening, and her opinion
was asked upon the matter
"David," she said to her son, what is that
large chamber for with the bay windows and
two mantel piecesl'
"For company, mother" was the reply.
"W hat company? | didn't know you ex-
| pected any, said the shrewd old lady.
"Oh, for any one who happens along. By
| and by Emma will leave school and have
! company, you know. James wife and
| Cousin HeIsy come down twice a year to
shop, and always stay here night or two"
| But your own boys come here to sleep 3G5
| nights in the year, and have thousand times
| the claim on you that any company have
"Yes!'
"What arrangements have you made for
themF'
And the father repeated the remark he had
made to his easy wife so often, that boys
didn't care, and that they could cuddie down
to sleep anywhere"
But these boys must not sleep anywhere
| vide that long spare chamber into two mod
crate sized Ones and give one to them, l shall
settle them in the room you have planned for
me and make my home with Catherine. She
has plenty of room and is always urging me
to come To her. l will not crowd your boys
out of a room"
David Lane loved his mother, so the result
was that the long spare chamber was fiji
ished so as to meet the wants of the boys.
Two happier boys never lived than these
two when the time came for furnishing and
ornamenting that rooml Grandma took the
matter into her own hands, and said they
should have everything to their own minds,
as long as they kept within bounds.
Now, what do you want in your roomT'
she asked when the house was nearly done.
iIn the first place, We don't want a carpet,
because somebody would be always telling
US not to kick holes in it We don't want
black walnut furniture nor big looking
glass, nor china vases, nor anything grand
that scratches, or tears, or breaks" Morton
said
"Well, what do you want, thenl" said their
grandmother.
We'll, grandma, we want an oiled floor
and two of your great braided mats; and an
open fireplace, with your brass and irons
from the garrett and big hearth, where we
can pop corn and roast nuts; and We want
bright wall paper, with pictures Of the
country; and two little iron betisteads, with
blue spreads; four chairs, painted blue; q
| glass case for our stuffed birds; shelves fol-
our books; and lots of hooks to hang our
bows and arrows, violin, French horn, box
ing gloves, bats and Indian clubs on. These,
with the old sitting room lounge and the old
easy chairs will make US the most comfort
able btAs in the world.
IN go with You tomorrow TO buy all you
want new, and it shall be present from Inc
to YOU" said the dear old lady.
"Grandma, dear" said Willis, 1--WE don,
want a single new thingl Let us have the
old things that nobody else wants and theI
we'll feel easy-besides, l like the old home
things better than new store things. Let Us
have what father was going TO send of tc
auction
THAT is good thought, dear boy" said
the grandmother, "and week from to-day
We will begin to fashion this boys paradise.
Before the month closed the Boys Para
disc" was complete, and a score of wise fathers
and mothers, with several scores of less wise
boys and girls, had been invited to see it.
Not one of Victoria's sons today enjoys his
splendid apartments more than our young
friends enjoy theirs. Even their father, al
though he affects to scorn such things, is sure
to take every stranger up there, and to say,
"We thought we'd make these fellows happy
for once
No one now complains of the Lane boys for
hooting from the top of stone walls or howl
ing about the streets by night; and their
mother says their music and their company
do not disturb her half as much as the anx.
iety as to where they were by night used tc
do.-Youth's Companion.